Rant about Respect

So ironically after I posted yesterday about how I'm looking to garner some respect from other established players, last night happened.

In the Hoy I get sat at a short, short table with 5 people. Those 5 people happened to be Blinders, MiamiDon, Joanne, and her buddy UponPoker?

Not a fun table to be started off on. So things are going on as normal, and Poker said he was going to be afk for a bit. So I immediately start noticing that every time it folds around to MD on the button, he raises, I fold my SB and Poker auto-folds. This happened at least 4-5 times, I was keeping track but not committing it to memory. So finally he raises his normal raise and I call with Q-7 to see if I can out flop him. Flop comes down A-7-4. I think I'm probably good here because he could be raising with anything as his play on the button had been loose. I bet it out, thinking I can get him to fold right here. He raises something like 3 times my bet. It still feels like I'm good here and he could be raising me with any two cards, so pop it back at him 3 times his raise thinking he is done, and almost putting myself all-in during the process. He thinks about it then pushes, by this point I half at least 2/3rds of my stack in there, and if happen to have an A then it was my bad luck, so I call. MD flips over the open ended and I flip my 7s, he doesnt improve and is bounced. Questionable? Maybe. I played my 7s very agressive while he must have known since I just smoothed called his raise I didn't have an Ace? So he says GG, i say gg. Done, right? Nope, he throws in a "gl playing that way".

Now I am happy to admit that I have toned it down a lot from going tilt when a busted player says some snarky comment, I take it in stride when I know I made a stupid play and win, but when I feel I did everything I could to represent the best hand and win, it bothers me. It bothers me even more because I absolutely respect the hell out of MD. He doesn't need to prove to anyone thats hes a great poker player, his bankroll and accomplishments speak for themselves, and like I said I respect that even if he doesnt respect me or my play.

So in the heat of the moment, and half thinking he logged out which is what i do when im steaming, I said "I hate that I get crucified for making a stand after he raised my SB 5 times." Nothing too inflammatory, but Blinders and Poker thought I was talking to them, I apologized to both of them. MD hadnt left and said he was cool, then he tossed another insult I guess that "You take stand like LJ does." Not sure who exactly who LJ is, and im not sure is was a slam or in jest, but either way it just put me in a foul mood.

I think the bottom line is that while yes, not all my decisions are rational because I do play some still on gut feeling, but all in all over the lifetime of my poker playing I have a positive ROI. Some of my greatest accomplishments are:

1) Taking the free $15 from The Gaming Club Poker room and turning that into $1400. Actual check I received when I cashed out. I know it small potatos compared to the big guys, but when you are 23 cashing out 1400 from something you put $0 into, thats a big deal.

2) The first tourney I ever won was the GCPR nightly freeroll at 1am, when the first prize $660.

3) First live MTT i did was the Act 3 at Foxwoods, on my 2nd try I won the act 1, and act 2. I met Mike Sexton, the year before WPT started, talked to him and shook his hand. Still the only pro i have actually met and spoke with. And then I finsished 17 out of 95, 7 spots away from money or a 10k ticket. Still not bad for a 23 year old.

4) Coming in 4th out of 1700 peeps in 28k guaranteed on FT. Biggest cash in a tourney so far at $1325

So yes, I may not be the best poker player, but I am overall a winning poker player. And in the end, thats all I really ask for.